Minn. Senate sends redistricting bills to Dayton

Published 4:43 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2011

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The state Senate has sent Gov. Mark Dayton bills that alter the boundaries of Minnesota’s eight congressional districts and 67 legislative districts, but they are likely to draw a veto from the Democratic chief executive.

Both bills passed the Senate Tuesday with support only from majority Republicans. Dayton has said he would not support redistricting bills that lack bipartisan support. If the governor vetoes the bills, the entire process is thrown into the courts.

The GOP congressional map lumps all of northern Minnesota into one district and creates three districts that stretch across the state. The legislative map pairs up more Democratic incumbents into one district than it does to Republicans. Democratic lawmakers have called the maps partisan.

Redistricting occurs every 10 years after the census produces new population figures.